The path up to Craterside Supply should have been relaxing, boring. The last familiar leg of a journey before reaching home. Instead, Sunset spent it, just as she had the rest of the trip, worrying herself sick about whatever grilling Rarity had in store for her.

When the group entered the store, they were surprised to see Moira hunched over the worktable, tinkering away on what appeared to be a hat, though it sounded as if at least part of it was made out of metal.

"Hey, Moira!" Applejack called out, grabbing her attention. " We set up that observation thing for you."

"I saw, thanks!" Moira replied brightly as she nodded to a terminal that she had set up next to the counter. "The footage so far has been really good. I haven't been able to figure out whether or not they have a society of their own yet, but I will!"

Everyone just gave her blank looks. Sunset tried to think of an appropriate response to such a bizarre statement, but nothing came to mind. Thankfully, Applejack came to the rescue, quickly changing the subject, "What are you workin' on, there?"

Moira grinned and turned back to the hat. "I was observing the mirelurks, when their shells and camouflage gave me an idea." She finished whatever she was tinkering with and held up the hat. It was a fedora, in a strangely unobtrusive gray color. "And, voila! Reinforced, neutral-colored headgear. It'll protect you and help you blend into the background all at once."

"Functional fashion, I approve," Rarity said with a nod.

"In that case, it's yours!" Moira tossed the hat to Rarity. "Consider it part of my thanks for setting up that observation module."

"My my, you're very welcome, darling." Rarity put the hat on and pulled out a hand mirror to inspect herself. "Hmmm, not bad. All I need now is the right coat, and I'll have a lovely 'wasteland noir' ensemble."

Sunset was surprised to see Rarity so happy with such a blandly colored hat, though she supposed that regularly getting shot at might have altered the fashionista's sense of practicality.

Seeing that her gift was well-received, Moira walked back behind the counter and pulled a heavy box off one of the shelves. "The rest of my thanks is in here." She pulled out one of the contents and showed it off. It looked like some sort of miniature computer that slotted over the wrist, though it bore only the vaguest resemblance to a Pip-Boy. "I managed to pick up four of these Stealth Boys. They're yours, if you want them."

"What do they do?" Sunset asked, picking one up to inspect it.

"They generate some sort of stealth field," Moira replied. "It makes the person wearing it almost invisible."

"Are you serious?! That's amazing!" Sunset exclaimed as the others loudly voiced their astonishment.

Moira smiled and indicated the little control panel on one of the Stealth Boys. "They don't last long, but you can adjust how strong the field is, which also affects how long they last."

"That's incredible technology!" Twilight picked one up and began inspecting it with terrible intensity. "How does it work?"

"I don't really know," Moira admitted. "I know how to use one, but I don't have a clue about the science behind them. I've actually got another one upstairs that I'm going to examine later."

Trying not to smile at Twilight's frustrated expression, Sunset patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Twi, I'm sure the Brotherhood or the Enclave will be able to tell you more. For now, we should probably figure out which of us is getting one of these."

The group talked amongst themselves, discussing who should take one of the Stealth Boys. It didn't take long for them to decide that one each should be given to Fluttershy, Rarity, Twilight, and Applejack.

With that out of the way, Sunset checked the time. It was getting late but, depending on what exactly Moira wanted them to do, she figured that they had time for another quick trip. "Okay, what's next on the agenda?"

Adam grimaced. "Wasn't it something to do with injuries?"

"That's right!" Moira replied eagerly. "I never get the chance to study someone who's severely injured. Not without them crying to be fixed right away or trying to bleed out and all that."

"How awful of them," Fluttershy muttered, with only a hint of sarcasm.

Moira didn't catch it. "I wouldn't say that they were awful, getting hurt is a little unpleasant, but it would be nice if they could at least let me have a proper look at them before I patch them up. It's really hard to fix someone and take notes at the same time."

Sunset resisted the urge to roll her eyes, or say something scathing. "Why don't you ask Doc Church if you can shadow him while he works on patients?"

"I've asked a few times, but he always says no, in increasingly mean ways," Moira replied sadly.

Pinkie looked around at the others warily. "I hope you're not about to suggest that Adam should jump off the walkway outside."

"Is that necessary?" Adam asked.

"Don't be stupid," Fluttershy hissed.

"I've got a better idea," Sunset offered. "Rainbow, I need you to go back to the Citadel. The Brotherhood always has more injured people than it can handle. Ask Elder Lyons if he'll allow Moira to shadow the medics on the condition that she helps them out with basic nursing duties."

"On it, Knight-Captain!" Rainbow snapped a salute before disappearing in a blur.

Moira whooped and clapped enthusiastically. "That was super speed! I've been wanting to see that ever since I heard about it on the radio! How does it work? How does she manage to deal with friction? Oh, what about the massive shifts in momentum when she turns?"

"It's magic, darling, though I'm sure she can explain it when she gets back," Rarity told her, though Sunset suspected that the last part was bullshit. "For now, I'd like to borrow Fluttershy and Sunset for the rest of the night. There's some fashion ideas that I very much want to discuss with them."

A chill ran through Sunset's spine, even more so when Moira just nodded cheerfully. "Sure thing!"

"Marvelous." Rarity swept her hair around as she turned and stepped over to the door. "Ah, everyone? I'd appreciate it if we weren't disturbed for the rest of the night. I'd like to take measurements and such, you know how it is."

Applejack doffed her hat. "You got it, Rares. See you in the mornin'."

Sunset glanced at Adam, then shifted to Pinkie when she realized that he and Fluttershy were non-verbally saying goodnight. "When Rainbow gets back, if Elder Lyons agrees to the request, ask her to drop Moira up to the Citadel for me, would you?"

"Can do!" Pinkie snapped a surprisingly crisp salute.

"Come along, dears!" Rarity pressed.

Dreading whatever was about to come, Sunset followed Rarity and Fluttershy out of the store and back to the Temple. The ever-present queue was smaller than usual; business obviously starting to wind down for the day.

Inside, Sunset felt a glimmer of hope at the sight of her handmaiden chatting with a handful of Children of Atom at the base of the brazier. "Primrose! How did the discussion with Sheriff Simms go?"

"I'm afraid that's going to have to wait," Rarity cut in, throwing Sunset a subtle glare. "We have something rather more urgent to discuss. Go on upstairs, I shall be up in just a few minutes."

With her last attempt at stalling swatted aside, Sunset resigned herself to the inevitable. Her only solace as she climbed the stairs was the fact that Fluttershy was there with her.

Moving on autopilot, it was only as Sunset opened the door to her room that she realized that it perhaps wasn't the best place for a chat.

"That's strange," Fluttershy muttered.

"What is?" Sunset asked, pulling the door closed.

Fluttershy cocked her head to the side. "Your room doesn't smell of blood anymore."

It took Sunset a second to realize what she meant. When it sank in, Sunset shoved the door back open. Sure enough, her bed was sporting clean sheets and a fresh blanket. "Awww… crap."

"What's the matter?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

"The sheets are clean," Sunset groaned. "Primrose knows."

Fluttershy shrugged and stepped past her into the room. "You never know. She might just think your monthly cycle started."

"With the way her hunches work, I doubt it," Sunset grumbled, stepping inside and closing the door.

Fluttershy sat on the edge of the bed. "Well, I think she'll keep quiet about it, anyway." She noticed the half-empty bottle of wine on the bedside table and picked it up to inspect it. "I don't think Primrose is the type of person to spread gossip like that without your permission."

"I hope so," Sunset said quietly. She started stripping her armor off as she walked over to its rack. "Do you want to drop your armor in your room before Rarity gets up here?"

"Oh! Good idea!" Fluttershy put the wine back and scurried quickly out of the room.

Left to her own devices, Sunset changed into a pair of pajamas; specifically, a pair of loose shorts and a tank top in Enclave tan and gray, and sat on the bed, waiting for her judgement to fall. She briefly toyed with the idea of having a little more wine to settle her nerves, but that felt like too much of a bad idea.

It wasn't long before Fluttershy returned, wearing identical pajamas. Rarity herself arrived barely a minute later, wearing a set of fluffy pajama pants and a tankini that Sunset had never seen before and, strangely, struggling to carry two thick blankets, two pillows, and a heavy-looking backpack. Fluttershy and Sunset quickly got up to help her.

"Phew! Thank you," Rarity said with a huff as she carefully placed the backpack on the floor. Glass clinked loudly inside. "Fluttershy, could you kindly confirm something for me? Are these walls soundproof?"

"They are," Fluttershy replied instantly.

"Wait, really?" Sunset asked in surprise.

Fluttershy nodded. "Yes. Scents seep through the cracks in the doors, but something about the magic keeps sounds from getting out." She tilted her head in thought. "I assume magic is why the doors don't let someone in unless they have a key or we invite them, too."

"That's all very fascinating, darling, but I believe we have something more pressing to discuss." Rarity folded one of the blankets on the floor, sat elegantly on it, then steepled her fingers and looked seriously at Sunset. "Alright, Sunset, I understand that this conversation is probably the very last thing that you want-"

"Then don't make me have it," Sunset said bluntly.

Rarity shook her head. "You're not getting out of this that easily. I'm worried about you, Sunset. The fact that Fluttershy is evidently aware of what happened is, I admit, a little bit of a relief, but I still have concerns." She glanced briefly at Fluttershy before adding, "After what happened here, and what almost happened with the Scribe, I think those concerns are justified."

A lead weight dropped into Sunset's stomach at the mention of the Scribe. "How do you know about that," she asked breathlessly, ignoring Fluttershy's confused look.

Rarity coughed delicately. "I caught the unpleasant brute trying to boast about it to the other Scribes. Don't worry-" she added quickly at Sunset's horrified expression, "-none of them believed him, and I personally made sure that he won't go maliciously spouting such things again. Not if he wants certain parts of his anatomy to remain intact, anyway."

"Thanks," Sunset said quietly.

"Don't mention it, dear, I wouldn't dream of letting such a brute get away with something like that," Rarity replied. "I didn't say anything back then because I thought you had enough to deal with, after everything that happened at Project Purity. And besides, Metzger stopped you that time. Given your, er… imperfect choice in men, however, you can understand why I'm concerned this time around."

Sunset just nodded slowly. She wasn't in the mood to explain everything yet again, but she supposed that she owed Rarity that much. Seeing Sunset's reticence, Fluttershy raised her hand. "Um, if you want, I can explain it for you."

"No, but thanks, Flutters." Sunset drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay, here's what happened."

Rarity listened carefully and silently as Sunset explained everything that had happened, from leaving Craterside Supply, up to when Fluttershy had turned up, sparing only the details of the act itself. Fluttershy took over after that, telling Rarity who the Disciple was, what he had said, and what advice and drugs she had given Sunset herself afterwards.

When all was said and done, Rarity sighed and crossed her arms. "Well, it's not as bad as I had feared. Morally, it's a bit of a mess, of course, but so is almost everything else in this rotten world. Don't worry, nothing said here tonight shall go beyond these walls."

"I appreciate it," Sunset told her. She rubbed her neck awkwardly. "Honestly, I was expecting you to press me for details, or judge me, or something."

"I would never," Rarity replied in a scandalised tone. "What I am doing is what a good friend should." She reached into the backpack and, to Sunset's absolute shock, pulled out five bottles of wine. "Now, the three of us are going to drink these, you're going to spill every last detail of whatever is causing a mess inside your mind, you're going to bawl your eyes out, which of course means Fluttershy and I shall as well, and we're going to get everything out of our systems in one go. Then, we're going to have a girls night in, gossip to our heart's content, and fall asleep here after getting as close as possible to shit-faced. Is that acceptable?"

Sunset just stared at her in wide-eyed disbelief. "You swore."

"And it never leaves this room," Rarity reminded her. "Come on, girls. Let's get drinking."

---

Primrose was worried. She was often nervous these days, what with having seven embodied Goddesses sleeping above her head, but this was different.

Something was wrong.

To be fair, there was a bunch of stuff wrong in the Temple at the moment. Primrose had thought nothing of the bloodstain on Lady Shimmer's bed, at first, but the strange urge to punch Chris in the face every time Prim saw him was giving her another suspicion. On top of that, Joshua was still upset that he had to pay Simms, and Jericho had been lurking around on and off like a creepy stalker. Unfortunately, none of those things felt like they were the biggest issue.

Primrose always trusted her hunches. She had had them ever since she was a little girl, and they had only gotten stronger and clearer since she had been struck by magic soaring through the sky. They were the reason Primrose had come to Megaton in the first place, only a month ago, and they were the reason that she was standing at the base of the Flame of Harmony, waiting for whatever problem was about to walk through the front door.

As if on cue, someone shoved the doors wide open. Three Talon Company mooks strutted through the doors. The Disciple posted in the Welcome Room tried to stop them, but one of the mooks pushed him back.

The lead mook, a woman with a filthy blonde ponytail, smirked as she looked around. "Heh, nice place you've built here. Real fancy."

"Can I help you?" Primrose asked politely.

The woman grinned. "Sure. I'm Lightning. We're here to pay our respects to the Rainbooms on behalf of Talon Company."

Primrose knew exactly what Lightning meant when she said she wanted to 'pay her respects'. Prim briefly considered warning the Goddesses, but Lady Rarity had been quite insistent that they not be disturbed unless it was an emergency. Three Talon Company losers were no emergency. "I'm afraid our Goddesses are indisposed at the moment. They have been very busy recently."

"That's fine, we're old friends," Lightning replied easily. "We'll just go on up and say hi."

The three tried to head to the stairs, but Primrose stepped in the way. She had a hunch that the Goddesses were not on good terms with Talon Company, and besides, she wasn't about to let three random armed strangers walk about the Temple as they pleased. "As I said, the Goddesses are not taking visitors at the moment. I ask that you leave."

"She has a point, Light," one of the mooks muttered. "The Commander didn't want us down this way, anyway, and starting trouble in Megaton ain't gonna end well."

"Quit your bitching, you fucking pussy," Lightning snapped. She glared at Primrose, raising an arm to shove past her. "Get out of my way, you-"

Primrose calmly punched her in the throat.

Lightning staggered back, clutching at her throat as she gagged and coughed. The other two mooks reached for their guns, only to freeze as they found themselves staring down the business end of a .44 magnum.

"I would rather not cause you any further harm," Primrose said evenly. "However, if you insist on misbehaving, I'll be forced to show you exactly what one of Alistair Tenpenny's former bodyguards can do."

The name hit home, as Prim had known it would, and the mooks eyed her with a newfound wariness. Lightning snarled, one hand still massaging her throat. "You just fucked with the wrong person, bit-"

"I think you're the one fucking with the wrong people." Primrose felt her heart leap as Rainbow Dash stepped into the Temple. "Now, how about you-"

A loud bang echoed around the room, and Lightning suddenly screamed and stumbled, dropping a gun that no-one had seen her draw and clutching at her hand. Blood poured from her fingers.

Rainbow glanced down at her glittering armor in surprise. "That bitch just tried to shoot me!"

The two mooks tried to draw their own weapons on her, but Rainbow whipped out Flashburn and blurred into action. The first man's head hit the floor a second later. Rainbow stabbed the second mook in the gut, then withdrew her blade and lopped his head off in one smooth swing. Finally, she pointed Flashburn at Lightning. "Just me and you now, bitch. What the hell do you-"

There was a blur and a crackle of electricity followed by the slamming of the front door, and suddenly Lightning was gone.

Rainbow looked from the spot where Lightning had been to the door and back. "She has super speed. Oh, damn."

Primrose shook her head slowly, utterly stunned. "She wielded the power of the Goddesses. How could she…?

"She must have a Geode," Rainbow finished. "I'd chase her, but she could be halfway across the wasteland by now. I need to warn the others about this."

"Should I tell Lady Shimmer?' Primrose asked.

Rainbow shook her head. "No. She's got enough crap on her plate for now, I'll tell her myself in the morning."

"Very well, Lady Dash." Primrose looked down at the smouldering gun, deciding to leave the magic to the Goddesses and latching on to the more mundane mystery instead. "What happened to her gun. Was that you, Lady Dash?"

"Nah." Rainbow gingerly picked up the gun and inspected it. "Looks like a few bullets tried to cycle into the chamber all in one go and got stuck. She must have tried shooting me using her super speed, the gun misfired, and rapid cycling made a bullet explode."

"That shouldn't happen," Primrose said, remembering everything she knew about guns.

Rainbow grimaced and held the gun out to show it to Primrose. "If the gun had been properly maintained, it would have been fine. This thing is filthy. It looks like it hasn't been cleaned or maintained in months at least." She put the gun back on the floor carefully and wiped Flashburn on the clothes of a dead mook before sheathing it. "I'd better go and let the girls know what's happening. Simms, too, I guess. Make sure all of the other ways into the Temple are locked down for the night. I doubt Talon Company will come back, but I don't want to take any chances."

Primrose nodded and bowed as Rainbow disappeared in a blur. She called out orders to the other Disciples, telling them to seal all other entrances and to clean up the bodies. As people hurried to obey, Primrose turned and strode purposefully up the stairs. As a Handmaiden, her first duty was to her Goddess, and there was no way she was going to risk letting an enemy get to Lady Shimmer. She would stand guard outside the Goddess's room all night by herself if she had to.

---

Pain tore through Lightning as she rocketed back towards Fort Bannister. Her hand was a mess. She banked hard, still getting used to her magical wings, and soared down into the Fort's courtyard.

Lightning touched down outside the command building just as Commander Jabsco stepped through the front door.

"What the hell happened to you?" Jabsco asked.

"The Rainbooms," Lightning spat. "Them and their fucking cultists."

Jabsco glared at her. "I ordered you to stay away from the Rainbooms until your training is-"

"I had one of them!" Lightning shot. "At least one of those bitches would be dead already if it wasn't for your shitty guns! Now shut the fuck up and fetch me a medic."

"You need to remember who is in charge here," Jabsco growled.

"No, you need to learn," Lightning retorted. "I'm the one with the magic. I'm the one with super speed. And you're-"

She choked as Jabsco lunged, wrapping an armored fist around her throat. "I'm the one who gave you that magic," he reminded her. "Super speed? Please. You strut around like you own the place but you can't even use that power properly yet. You'd better learn how, and you'd better learn some respect to go with it, or I'll take that power away." He shoved her away from him, smirking as she coughed and rubbed her much-abused neck. "Luckily for you, you're going to get plenty of chances to prove yourself. Talon Company has found itself a new benefactor."

Lightning fought to keep herself from glaring up at him. It wasn't worth challenging Jabsco. Yet. "Who is it?"

As if they had been waiting for her to ask, a massive figure ducked out of the command building. Lightning stiffened as a hulking Super Mutant stepped out of the shadows. "This is Shephard," Jabsco said with a grin. "He has his own reasons for wanting to take down the Rainbooms, and, just like you, he has a Geode, too."

Lightning's eye was drawn to the awful blood-smeared scar over the Super Mutant's breastbone.

"I've heard a lot about you, Lightning," Shephard said in a surprisingly soft voice. "Come, we have much to discuss. A new war is coming, and this time it is we who shall reign supreme!"

Next Chapter: Chapter 115 - Wasteland Survival Guide: Rivet City's History Estimated time remaining: 18 Hours, 11 Minutes